Changeable-gear transmission mechanism.



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No. 878,778. PATENTBDFEB. l1, 1908.

J. DAWSON. CHANGEABLB GEAR TRANSMISSION MCHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED 00T. 12, 1908.

- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

memup JAMES DAWSON, OFROCHEST'E'R, YORK.

CIAITGEABLE-GEAR TRANSMISSION MCHANISM.

No. 878,778. t

Specification of Letters Patent.

rammed Feb; 11, 190s.

Application ledOctober 12.1906. Serial No. 388.532- y 1o. all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES DAWSON, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, haveinvented -certain new and y useful Improvements in Chan cable-Gear Transmission Mechanism; and

A I -do hereby declareftheI following to bea full, clear, and eXact description ofthe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, 'forming a part of this specification, and tothe reference-numerals marked thereon.

My present invention relates to variable speed transmission mechanism such as are commonly applied to internal combustion engines to transform the high speed at which they are normally and almost'necessarily4 run to various graduations thereof at the will of the operator whereby the greatest efiiciency of the engine is developed and maintained,

at the same time affording perfect control of lthe power generated as imparted in greater or less degree to' the driven mechanism, and' it has for its object to provide a simply constructed yet strongeandv durable' device of this nature which will be positive in its operationI andl by means of which the various speeds in both directions may be controlled by the movements of a single operating mer44 dium.

' vide anonstructionwherein the cooperatingv gearsare constantly in mesh and the inter-- 45 view of a transmission mec anism co truct-f A further object of my invention is to prolocking relatively movable toothed members by means of whicheach group may be suc- .cessively thrown into working combination, Iare so .arranged as to maken stripping ofthe teeth ractically impossible,

To t ese and other ends the inventioncom rsists in certain' improvements and combinations of parts', all 'as wgill be hereinaftenmore ed in accordance .With my invention, the top lof the casing being removed. Fig 2 '-is a transverse .section on the line 2-2of Fig. 1'.

Fig. 3 is asimilar view on the line 3 8f of o'F. 1. v

f imilar reference numerals in the several figures mdicate sirnilanparts.

In carrying out my invention I' employ I. generally, a driving shaft coupled directly or indirectly to the engine, adriven shaft arranged in'alineinent therewith andjghaving shaft.

countershaft provided witha series of fixed gears in constant mesh with a corresponding series of ring gears surrounding the driven Motion is transmitted to' the latter by means of a sliding gear locked thereon which is moved successively into engagement with the inner teeth of the ringgears, while its extreme movement in an opposite ,direction couples the two'shafts for a direct drive or high speed, at the same timeactuating mechanism for simultaneously throwing out the drive of the counter shaft. 4 Referring to' the drawings 1 indicates a gear case of suitable design and configuration, 'but and bolte together through corresponding lugs 2 in theusual manner, 'projectlng portions at either end thereof formin splitbearings 3, Ltand 5. The driving sha t 6 is comparatively short and is rigid y supported in its adjacent end journaled therein and a f dpreferably constructed in halves4 the bearing 3,' the latter beirf made sufiiciently long for the purpose, t e outer end being provided with a coupling 7 for its cennection with a clutch or to the engine shaft, while the inner \end is provided .with teeth forming an integral gear or clutch member 8. Loosely mounted on'the shaft 6 is asleeve 9 provided with'gear teeth and of such shape as to form integrally therewith, the clutch 'member or internal gear 10 adapted to c0- operate with the gear 8, and a gear 11 meshi ling With a pinion 12 onu the countershaft 18.

The gear 11 is of such awidth as to be constant y in mesh with the i inion 12 though allowing gears 8 and 10 -to e disengaged by sliding of the sleeve 9;

The eountershaft 13 is supportedin bearing `5 andV in bearings 14 mounted in transverSely extending Webs 15 formed integrally osite end 'from the pinion 12 1s provided wit `a plurality of fixed pinionswhich in the present instance comprise the reversin pinion 16, l'ow s eed pinion 17 and intermediate pinion 18. ese are in constant mesh with a corresponding.

V,number of ring gears 19, 20 and 21 respectively, arranged between the webs l15 and supported in ball bearings 22 therein. These gears are provided with interior teeth'23, 24 and 25 respectively, ,of uniform pitch and mg pinion 16 on jthe countershaft 13 and ioo are similar,other.thaninsize,excepting'that f `the gear 19` is providedwith a .second set of interior teeth26 which mesh with the revers- "29 while the opposite end is provided with a reduced portion 30 for which a bearing is 'arranged in a recess 31 on the end of the driving shaft 6 by means of which connection the shafts are mutually supported in the interior of the case though free to rotate independently of each other. This shaft 28 extends concentrically through the ring gears 19, 20 and 21 and from the collar 29 tothe re duced portion 30 is `prismatic in cross section whereby a sliding sleeve 32 mounted thereon is locked against independent rotation. One end of this sleeve is provided with gear teeth 33 of a pitch equal to that of the internal gears 23, 24, 25 whereby a clutch connection may be established between any one of these and thesleeve (and hence the shaft28) by sliding the sleev'e'in properrel'ation thereto. The opposite end of the sleeve is provided with a clutch member 34 having internal teeth adapted to lock with the gear 8, (integral with the driving shaft 6) when the' sleeve `1s moved in thatdirection whereby shafts 6 and 28 are cou led for a direct`drive. \v

Lon itudina .movement of the sleeve 32 in neither irection is effected by means of a push rod 35, mounted in the casing to extend preferably through one of the webs 15. Upon the rod is adJustably secured by means of a.

set screw 36,. an arm 37 the fend of which engages a circ mferentiall groove or channel 35c in the sle vewhereby the sleeve is free to rotate without disturbing the contact. rod is suitably connected to be manually operable if desired by means of a lever or other devicesf l l The operation of the mechanism so far described will now be explained.4 For this purpose it will be assumed that the sleeve is moved to a position wherein the teeth 33 'thereon are out ofcontaLct and between the ring gears23 and 24, this being the neutral position, andthat the driving-- shaft is rotat- Movement would therefore be communicated through the gea'rll tothe pinion 12 on the countershaft13, to theipinions 16, 17

and 18 thereon and thence to the ring'gears 19,20 and 21 which l.would be running free. By lan operation of the lever in the proper direction, the teeth` 33 on the sleeve clutch the Y ring gear 20vwhereby the driven shaft 28 is rotated at the sp'eed imparted by the low gear pinion` 17. A further movement 'sim-ilarly throws in the intermediate speed pinion and gea'r V18 and 21 respectively while the limit of motion isreached when the sleeve is so far advanced as -toallow the clutch member 34 onits opposite end'toengage the'gear mem- The ber 8 on the shaft 6, displacing the clutch member 10 and, thro. 'ng out the counter; shaft though the'gea '11 will still be in mesh with the pinion12 as before mentioned, the sleeve 9 remaining idle while the driving and driven shafts are thereby directly connected for high speed. A reverse movement of the sleeve`32 from neutral, similarly locks" the ring gear 19 rotating the countershaft in the 'opposite direction to reverse the movement of the drivenshaft 2 8. i

` To positively eect the displacement of the clutch member 10 when a direct connection is desired and leave the member 8 ,on the driving shaft free to receive its connection l employ an auxiliary means for sliding thesleeve 9 embodying in the present instance a yoke 44 (shown in Fig. 3) surrounding the latter. and pivoted to the casingas at 38. It is provided with inwardly-extending studs or projections 39 which enter a circumferential groove 40 arranged conveniently on the sleeve 9 whereby the latter is free torotate but is moved longitudinally b y movement of the yoke upon its pivot. An extension of the yoke is provided with an eye 41 through which passes the rod 35 carrying a helical spring 42 that abuts the wall ofthe casing and tends to force the yoke infs'uch a direction asmwill keep the members 8 and 10. normally in engagement for operation of thecountershaft, a stop 43 being provided to limit its action. When the rod 35 is operated to throw in the-direct drive,the arm 37 thereon engages the eye 41 and forces the yoke along against the tension of the spring 42 and dislp laces the member 10 for the purposes described. l

It will be understood that while I have referred to the interlocking parts shown in the drawings as gears having internal or external teeth such as parts 8 and 10, their functions are not essentially such, being practically clutch elements and subject to variations 1n form and operation. However, all the teeth on these coperating parts areA made to engage simultaneously whereby stripping is prevented', the meshing gears rotating 1n opposite directions being i n constant engagement through every operation.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a power j transmitting mechanism, the combination with a driving shaft, a counter vshaft operated thereby and a driven shaft, of Va plurality of ring 'gears of uniform interior diameter arranged to encircle the driven shaft and operated by the countershaft, bearings for the gears independent of the driven shaft clutch devices on the yinner circumferences of said gears, a sliding clutch 4member secured against rotation on the driven shaft and adapted to'separately engage the clutch devices on the gears to interlock the latter and the driven shaft and means for operating said 2. In a power-transmitting mechanism, the combination with a casing having transversely-extending webs or walls therein, and

a driving shaft, a countershaft operated ltershaft journaled in bearings" in' said webs and projecting beyondA the outer one, gears on the countershaft meshing with said ring gears to rotate the driven shaft in an opposite direction from the countershaftv when said vringgears are locked upon the latter, a ring gear mounted exteriorly of the webs and #provided with interior teeth, a gear on the projecting end of the countershaft meshing with said teeth to rotate the last-mentioned ring gear in the direction of rotation ofthe countershaft and means for inde llcling any of the ring gears to t e driven s a t.

.4. In a power-transmitting mechanism,

the combination with a support, a driving shaft carried thereby and provided with a -clutch member, a driven shaft Ijournaled in alinement with the driv shaft and a countershaft, of a gear rotatab y mounted on the driving shaft for operating thecountershaft and forming a sliding sleeve, a clutch member on said sleeve adapted to o erate in sliding engagement with the clutc member on the driving shaft and a` clutch member on the driven shaft also movable into engagement with the clutch member on the driving shaft and abutting the clutch member on the sleeve to simultaneously disengage it from the latter. v

5. In a power-,transmitting mechanism, the combination with a support, a driving ,v and a driven shaft journaled' in alinement therein, a iixed clutch member on one -of said shafts,4 sliding clutch members on each toperated by the sliding member on the driving shaft and means for operating one of said shdin .members into engagement with the fixed `c utch member, of a lever operated 4the combination with a s\,1pp 0rta driving endently ,adaipted to coperate therewith, a counter. sha

and a driven-shaft journaled therein, a fixed clutch member on'one of said shafts, asliding clutch member on each of them ada ted to coperatetherewith, and a counters aft operated by the slidingmember on the driving shaft ofga push rod provided with an arm-forA operatingone of said sliding clutch members, an operating le'ver for the other pivoted to the su port and adapted to beengaged by the pus rod to move it in one direction and a spring interposed between said lever and the support normally-tending to force it in the other direction.

7. In a power-transmitting mechanism, the vcombination with asupport, a drivin and a driven shaft journaled therein, a fixed clutch member on one of said shafts, a sliding clutch member on each of them ada ted to coperate therewith, and a counters aft operated b the'sliding member on the driving shaft o a push rod provided with an arm foroperating one of said sliding clutch members, an operating lever for the other pivoted to the support and adapted to be engaged by the push.rod to move it pin one direction, a spring interposed between said4 lever andthe support normally tending to force it in the opposite direction anda stopon the latter for limiting the action of the spring.

8. Ina power-transmitting mechanism,

the combination with a driving shaft, a countershaft operated thereby and a driven shaft j ournaled lin alinement with the driving shaft, of a pluralityof fixed gears on the countershaft, a plurality of loose gears encircling the driven shaft cooperating therewith and provided with clutch members, a clu'tch member on the driving shaft and a sliding clutch member on the driven shaft operating to engage with the latter when moved in one direction and to en'g age with the clutch member on each of the gears -encircling the driven shaft, selectively, when operated 1n the other direction. v

9. In a power-,transmitting mechanism,

the combination with a driving shaft, a i

driven shaft journaled -in alinement therelwith .and a countershaft, of agear fixed on the driving shaft, a loose, sliding gear mountedv thereon for o' erating the countershaft and provided Wit internalteeth for engagement with the fixed gear on the drivin shaft when operated longitud-inall of the s aft, a sliding internal gear on the riven shaft also adapted to engage onthe gear' fixed onthe driving shaft and' means for operating one of the sliding gears4 longitudinally.

l JAMES DAWSON.

Witnesses: l RUSSELL B. GRIFFITH, FLORENCE E. FRANCH. 

